The Pivot 429 MachSL is one of our favorite XC race bikes. It somehow straddles the thin line between race pace efficiency, while still remaining confident when things get rowdy. This past year it has proven its chops by winning a World Solo 24 Hour Championship and the overall Epic Series title. It didn’t need an upgrade, but the Arizona brand felt they could make the 429SL even better with some key tweaks.

Lighter, matte finish with better graphics are now available.

For 2017, they’ve left the frame geometry untouched, but reworked the rear triangle and linkage. The refresh has significantly increased stiffness, helped drop a few grams, and added 27.5+ compatibility.

The 429MachSL also has provisions for an internally routed dropper post.

Aside from the all-new boost rear end, the frame remains the same. For those who need a refresh, that means 100mm of rear travel via a DW-Link system. Up front, it’s best paired with either a 100mm or 120mm fork. It all depends on your intentions. Other details include full internal cable routing with Shimano Di2 Integration and Enduro Max Cartridge Bearings.

The top of the line models are available with either SRAM Eagle of Shimano Di2. The entry level build features a smart blend of Shimano SLX and XT components.

The 429SL is available in four different sizes (S, M, L, XL) and should fit riders between 5’3” and 6’4”. Claimed weights for the frame is 5.2 lb (2.4kg) and sub 23 lb (10.4kg) for a complete.

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